Reigning NTFL premier Nightcliff gets a chance for historic back-to-back Premier League flags

CHRIS Baksh got what he wanted when his Nightcliff players hit the ground running in the NTFL preliminary final

Chris Baksh and 1965 premiership coach Terry Elliott celebrate last year’s Premier League flag. Can he engineer historic back-to-back flags?

CHRIS Baksh got what he wanted when his Nightcliff players hit the ground running in the NTFL preliminary final.

The Tigers worked hard in the first half to take a two-point lead into the main break, but a seven-goal to two third term took them out of sight of the Crocodiles and into a second successive grand final.

Saturday night’s premiership decider is also an opportunity for the Tigers to win back-to-back senior flags in a first for the 70-year-old club.

Baksh asked his players for the maximum effort after they trailed St Mary’s at every change before losing the second semi-final.

“We wanted a four-quarter effort and I thought the boys brought that,’’ he told the NT News.

“Nothing against Districts, they threw everything at us and made us earn the win.

“It was a case of who could kick back-to-back goals after halftime would get a bit of an edge and that was the focus during the break, try and kick two in a row and get a bit of a lead.’’

Baksh expects the physical nature of Saturday night’s knockout final where the loser could start planning for next year to be replicated in the grand final.

“Next week won’t be much different, the stakes will be pretty high for both sides,’’ he said.

“We look like being without Jayden Kickett, who unfortunately has injured a calf muscle in a big blow for him after all the work he’s done to get back into the league side.

“It’s very disappointing for Jayden, he’s in a lot of doubt as to whether he’ll play in the grand final, but we’ll give him every chance to get right.’’

Baksh was pleased with his forward line players after they were virtually unsighted in the semi-final loss.

“We worked on the structure and with (Nathan) Brown back in defence and Fitz (Liam Holt-Fitz) up forward the team balance was a lot better,’’ he said.

“It’s a big week for the club after last year, we’ll be keeping things as normal as possible, including what happens in the Nichols Medal with our players.’’